Caged Wolf (Darkmore Penitentiary, #1)

by Caroline Peckham

“Morning, Pudding,” I said, turning my head to look at my cumbersome friend. “No pudding at breakfast,” he muttered, his brow low. “That there isn’t,” I agreed, exchanging a smirk with Roary. “It’s still nice to fill our bellies though, right?” “No pudding, no pots,” he grumbled before looking away from us and ending our conversation.

I love him

Hastings reappeared from the kitchen and walked along the side of the room at a casual pace. When he reached my table, he turned and walked along it until he made it to me where he leaned forward and placed an apple beside my bowl. Sin looked up just as the guard walked away again and the smile he gave me was so heated that I felt it right down to my core. “I thought I was the one who was supposed to embody everyone’s desires?” he called teasingly as I bit into the gift with a smirk on my face. “You do,” I assured him, my gaze sliding over his muscular physique just as my pack appeared.

I caught Roary’s eye and winked at him as I cupped my hands around my mouth and started singing It’s Raining Men by The Weather Girls at the top of my lungs.

Lmao

“I bet you won’t steal a pudding from Pudding,” I breathed in his ear and the grin he gave me in return sent my heart racing. “Too easy,” he said as my wet hair dripped onto his knee. “While he’s eating it,” I added with a wink before shoving away from the table and heading for the exit.

“Thank you for my gift, ragazzo del coro,” I said in a low voice. “But do you think I could beg for another?” “Isn’t an apple enough?” he asked, frowning a little like he was wondering why he’d done that for me now. “And you just caused a scene in the Mess Hall, so I really shouldn’t be giving you any preferential treatment now.” “I know,” I agreed, shifting forward until I was right in his personal space and lowering my voice seductively. “It’s just…I’m so wet.” Hastings stared at me for a long moment like he didn’t know what to say to that and I stepped back, pointing at my drenched clothes. “Oh. Right. Your clothes are wet,” he mumbled, dropping his gaze to the floor. “What else would I have meant?” I asked in a confused tone. “Nothing,” he blurted. “Nothing else.”

This poor man

Which meant I needed to locate a Polethius Mole Shifter.

Whyyy

I was soon out of my cell block, marching downstairs with the ten others who’d been selected, following the two guards. There’d be ten from every other cell block too so I wanted to get down there first and make the most of the two hours they gave us in the room.

Thats crazy

I hated that bitch with a passion, but I cared about her just as fiercely.

You love her shut up

I’d return to use them later, but right now, I wanted what every fucker in here wanted most. Their horoscope.

Could you imagine caring about it that much?

Prisoner Number: #1 Name: Ethan Shadowbrook Crime: Kidnapping Order: Werewolf Star Sign: Cancer Element: Water Sentence remaining: Two months and fifteen days

Omg

“I’m going to show the moon where you really belong then she’ll see sense and unbind us.” “Good luck arguing with the moon, stronzo,”

I’d asked several girls into my cell this week with the intention of fucking my mate out of my mind, only to freak out the second they started undressing and shoving them out again. There were rumours going around about me. My pack knew something was

Oops

The Lovers. I tossed it aside with a growl, turning over the next card. The Lovers. “Fuck you, who’s mixed up this deck?” I turned the last card over and threw the whole lot at the wall as The Lovers stared up at me again. The cards were flung back by the magical shield keeping them bound to this table and half of them slapped me in the face.

My Wolves in his Cell Block had told me that the picture of my sister was now hanging in his cell above his bed. My fucking baby sister. And if I even let my mind stray to the thought of what he used that picture for, I wanted to tear his head off with my bare hands.

Omfg

“You’re welcome. You can listen to more on my website at www dot Ethan’s cockle warmers dot com.”

Moron

“Who is that?” Rosalie asked as she moved to my side. “My sister.” “You can’t take it, he’ll know it was you,” she said firmly. “Is this really your big plan?” “What did I say about underestimating me?” I shot at her before, moving to a notebook on Gustard’s nightstand and ripping out a page. I shut my eyes as I focused, extending my will into the page and casting an illusion on it so it was a double of my sister’s photograph. Then I ripped it into pieces and tossed it on the cell floor.

“You could have the whole prison trying to please you, stronzo, you’d still be thinking about me.” She turned her back on me and I hated how right she was as I glared at her perfectly round ass.

Whipped

But I just couldn’t with her, no matter how hard I tried, she circled through my brain a thousand times a day. I wanted to know everything about her, what she dreamed of, what she lived for, what she loved. And I equally wanted to cut out the piece of me that felt that way.

“By the stars, Wendy, get Christopher’s dildo away from me – it’s for safe keeping! Wait – fuck! What have you done to my room, you bitch!?” I burst out laughing, racing after Rosalie as her laughter joined mine and we fled the scene of the crime. And holy shit did it feel good to be breaking the rules with her by my side.

Lololol

“My wild girl just wants to make sure you’re not tempted by me so that she can keep me all for herself,” he replied, his eyes dripping over me. “Keep dreaming, sinner boy,” I replied dismissively before turning back to my newest friend.

Im dreaming

“Forse non è così innocente come sembra.” Maybe he is not as innocent as he seems. “Tut, tut, tut, Rosa, are you trying to corrupt that guard?” Roary asked me in an undertone, his eyes sparkling with understanding. “What makes you say that?” I asked, batting my eyelashes at him. “There isn’t a whole lot to do in here, little pup. You can take all kinds of courses once you’re in the correctional program, including conversational Faetalian.” My smile widened and I leaned closer, tiptoeing up to his ear. “Quindi mi capirai ogni volta che sarò cattiva?” So you’ll understand me whenever I’m being bad? “Non puoi nascondermi niente, Rosa,” he replied and I bit my lip at the sound of my language on his lips. You can’t hide anything from me, Rosa. “Beh, dovrò solo provare ed essere brava.” Well, I’ll just have to try and be good. “Non credo che tu sappia come.” I don’t think you know how. I smirked to myself and shrugged as I stepped back. “Probably not,” I agreed.

Faetalian flirting!!

“Alpha?” Amira’s voice interrupted us and I turned to her with a sigh. Her less than thrilled attitude towards me hadn’t gone unnoticed and I was pretty close to having to beat her down to remind her who ran this pack again. “What?” I asked, not bothering to hide my irritation with her. “Sonny asked me to ask you to meet him in the library,” she said in a timid voice. “Oh. Okay then. Thanks.” She scurried away and I almost felt bad about being short with her. Almost. “I’d better go and see what that’s about before we’re all herded back to our cells,” I said, offering Sook an easy smile. “I’ll catch you later.” “Okay. See you in the Order Yard,” she said with a smirk, clearly meaning to hold me to my promise.

This bitch

quarters.” “Oh cool, so maybe I could go grab some beer and swing by later?” “I like to watch it alone,” I said coolly and I could almost see his little mutt heart breaking as he bowed his head. “Oh…okay.” I clenched my jaw, turning away from him and trying to ignore the stirring in my chest, but it wouldn’t quit. He’d made friends amongst the guards so I didn’t know why the fuck he thought I was a good candidate to cosy up

Dude... Be nice

“Every time I get hurt, you show up, Mason,” she whispered and I swallowed thickly. “I’m just doing my job,” I growled. She reached up, brushing her fingers over my cheek. “Sure you are.”

Lub

“Well whoever created it is an idiota.” She pursed her lips.

I assume Vard

Amira was the one who’d sent me there. She told me Sonny was waiting for me and yet he clearly hadn’t been. I intended to ask him whether or not he’d been in the library at all last night when I saw him, but I was pretty damn sure I already knew the answer. And if that bitch had sold me out she might as well have slit her own throat, because if I had to do it myself I was sure as shit going to make a messy job of it.

Get her

“Hi. I’m just checking in, I wanted to make sure you’re doing okay with the Aborini job?” Oh yes, yes, hell to the fucking yes!!

CELLPHONE

“Making rules now are you? Do you think this cell block belongs to you, little pup?” he asked, the hint of a warning in his voice. I licked my busted lip as I looked up at him, the iron tang of blood coating my tongue. “Do you like having The Watchers in here, Roary?” I asked innocently. “No.” “Then maybe I was just doing you a favour.” He snorted a laugh and I smiled in response. “Just don’t forget who runs this cell block, little pup,” he said in a firm tone. “Every king needs a queen, Roar,” I teased as the bridge slid into place before us and the doors parted to let us out. “You want to be my queen, Rosa? Some things never change I guess.” “Well if the crown fits…” I winked at him and walked away, striding over the bridge as the guards came into view.

“We wouldn’t want that,” I mocked, watching as he pushed his thumb between his lips to lick my blood off of it. My heart leapt at the sight and I couldn’t stop myself from staring at his mouth for a long moment.

Yum

The Darkmore gym clothes were black, plain, dull. But she wore them like a rainbow. And I wanted to turn into a Pegasus and ride right through her.

Lmao pls

Ethan reached behind him, catching her calf and hauling her off of him with a fierce strength. He crawled over her, grabbing hold of her throat and my jaw tightened as she lifted her hips, grinding against him. His eyes became hooded and jealousy hit me like a fucking hurricane. They were trying to hide it, but no one could conceal lust from an Incubus. I was finely tuned to pick up on that shit like some sort of sex radio.

Uh oh

“See you in the yard, Ethan,” I said as I turned toward him sharply, catching him off guard as I slammed my mouth to his. He threw me away half a heartbeat later and I roared a laugh as he wiped his mouth in anger. A kiss from me was a threat as often as it was an invitation. And he knew exactly which one I’d given him.

Yay! Gay!

I spotted Ethan filing into an elevator with his pack and I caught his eye. I made a circle with my index finger and thumb then pushed my other index finger into it with a raised eyebrow. He answered by lifting his own finger and running it across his throat. A grin bit into my cheeks as I headed into another elevator. It’s totally up his butt.

Lmao i cant

His jaw ticked angrily, but with the clamour of voices in the Mess Hall and the game of sucker punch my pack were currently enthralled in, I was confident no one else had heard me. He still looked angry enough to spit though. Poor guy really needed to get laid.

So bounce

Hopefully. I was already certain that I’d gotten away with obtaining the Nepula Weed from Ethan and Sin and it was currently stashed in my wall where no nosey Vampires could find it. I just had to be sure that he couldn’t figure out what I was making.

What are you making

“Are you going to fork me, Sin?” I asked, leaning forward so that his funny little weapon dug in a bit more as I reached out to wipe an imaginary crumb from the corner of his lips. He shifted suddenly, drawing my thumb into his mouth and sucking on it. “I could fork you all day long, sugar. I might even spoon you a bit too.”

These two are made foe one another

“Vuoi inseguirmi, Vampiro?” I breathed. Do you want to chase me, Vampire? I was pretty sure he had enough grasp on my language to understand the offer and the way his eyes lit made me certain of it. “You’re late for work,” he snarled. “You’re cleaning down on the maintenance level again today.” I bet I am.

Again grr and woof

My blood stained the corner of his mouth and he glared at me in a clear warning to keep my mouth shut. “Erm, sir?” Hastings’ voice came from behind him and I offered him the dirtiest smile in my arsenal before dropping my gaze to the huge bulge in his pants. “If you try to run from an Officer again, you’ll get more than a bite for it, Twelve. Do you want to spend a week in the hole?” Cain snarled at me. “No, sir,” I said in my most innocent voice, biting my bottom lip.

DAMMIT HASTINGS

“You don’t need to keep warning me, Mason,” I said, my blood heating from the way his eyes flashed with rage at the sound of his name in my mouth. “But next time we play your game, maybe we should do it somewhere really private. Just in case you’re tempted to break a few more rules?” “You’re deluded if you think I’d ever fuck an inmate.” “Okay,” I replied innocently, my gaze dropping to the bulge in his pants.

Bounce !

“Shh, your complaints are killing the mood.” “Seriously, Sin, I don’t wanna have to kick your head in but if that’s what it takes to-” Sin’s hand collided with my ass and I gasped in surprise as I clutched his broad shoulders. “Did you just spank me?” I snarled. “Yeah. And you liked it, wild girl.”

Got her

“This is bullshit,” he snarled, looking down at his own arms. “What are you doing to block my gifts?” “I don’t know what you mean.” “Well, unless the real me just so happens to be your perfect fucking fantasy, you must be doing something to stop me from getting a read on you. And as I can count the amount of times that I’ve been someone’s ideal fantasy in my Fae form on a closed fist, I know for a fact that you’re doing something to fuck with me.” “Sin, I have no idea what you’re talking about-” “Don’t feed me that horse shit.” My lips popped open and I stared at him in surprise. He lunged at me suddenly and gripped my upper arms as I felt his gifts brushing against my skin again. “Stop it!” he demanded. “Sin, I promise you I’m not doing anything. Maybe you can’t get a read on me because I’m not attracted to guys based on looks alone.” “What does that mean?” “It means that half of what I look for in a guy is that he’s a true alpha,” I

Oo sstandards

And for the past five years, I’d remained in it for something I didn’t even do. Not that I regretted it. So long as I was in here taking the blame for my sister’s crime, I was content enough. Apart from anything else, Darkmore didn’t take pregnancies lightly and she had just found out she was carrying her first pup the day I’d given myself up to the cops in her place.

Woah

“Why did you come back for me?” she breathed as she broke the kiss. I brushed my fingers up her neck until my thumb caressed the crescent moon behind her ear. “Because you’re mine, love. Not even death can take you from me if I decide against it.”

Eeeee

“Do you wanna just climb into my lap, Rosa?” he teased. “Well this bench is cold on my ass,” I commented lightly. “You might cause a Lioness riot if you do,” he joked. “Is that a challenge?” Roary’s golden eyes fixed on mine and a mischievous glint flashed in them as he leaned towards me. “I bet you won’t…” he purred. Gah that damn game!

Grrrrrrrrrd

“Rosa…” he said slowly and my jaw tightened as I felt yet another rejection hovering on his lips. But fuck that. I refused to let him make me feel like a stupid little kid ever again. “You need to work on your dares, Lion boy,” I said with a snort of amusement before shoving off of him as quickly as I’d taken my seat.

Get over the age gap already

“Yeah, he was in the last stage.” “The last stage of what?” I asked, the smile slipping from my face as I realised he wasn’t joking. “The guards call it under stimulation.” “And what’s that?” “They say that some Fae can’t take being cut off from their magic and Order forms as much as we are. As in, their minds can’t take it. So they just lose the plot, start acting crazy and eventually they snap hard enough to pose a danger to themselves or the other inmates. After that, they’re hauled off to Psych and never seen again.” Roary looked around like he expected someone to be watching us through his wall of Shades.

“Come on, Twelve, you’ve got work to do on Maintenance again today,” he said, drawing closer like he expected me to resist in some way. “Yes, sir,” I murmured without looking at him before heading along the corridor towards the stairs.

SEX

“I don’t understand what this has to do with-” “When a Fae has no one who wants to bury them, it’s the responsibility of the prison to dispose of the body safely so that there is no chance of the remains being stolen for use in Dark Magic.”

Sub plot!

“As a fire Elemental, I sometimes lend my power to the furnaces in the crematorium. And on more than one occasion, there have been additional bodies to burn. I’m the chief officer here. No inmate dies without me filling out the paperwork so I know exactly which bodies should be arriving for cremation. And which ones have been tossed on the heap in hopes that no one would notice.”

Thats suspicious... Enter Cardi B

“Problem?” I questioned. “You just have a really punchable fucking face, Sixty Nine. Anyone ever tell you that?” he asked coolly, lifting the scanner so it counted me. I rubbed the stubble on my jaw, feigning a thoughtful expression. “That’s funny, I was just thinking the same about you, Officer.” He lowered the scanner, shifting closer to glare in at me. “Well the difference between you and me, inmate, is if you punched me, I could throw you in the hole for a month. If I punched you, I could keep punching until my knuckles busted.” He sneered and I growled. “I guess this job makes you feel like the big man, huh? Does it compensate for your tiny dick, sir?”

Dick competition is strong